MELAKA: A 37-year-old traffic cop has been arrested over the death of a teen motorcyclist during an operation against illegal racing at Durian Tunggal in Alor Gajah here.
State top cop Deputy Comm Datuk Zainol Samah confirmed that the policeman, with the rank of a corporal, was arrested at 9am yesterday after he was summoned to the Alor Gajah police headquarters’ traffic unit to assist in the investigation.
“We have received six reports over the incident while statements have been recorded from three eyewitnesses,” he said.
The policeman, said DCP Zainol, was also asked to undergo a urine test, which later turned out to be negative.
He said the policeman, who was on standby at the Durian Tunggal police station on the first day of Hari Raya, had driven the police vehicle by himself to the scene after receiving a complaint over the loud noise caused by the illegal racers.
The 18-year-old motorcyclist died on Thursday during treatment at Hospital Melaka after reportedly colliding with the police patrol vehicle as it was making a right turn at a junction.
The motorcyclist, identified as Mohammad Khairul Basahri, had succumbed to internal injuries besides suffering from a broken leg during the 2.56am incident on April 10.
An investigation is being carried out under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death while driving, which carries up to 10 years in jail and a RM50,000 fine upon conviction.
A 40-second video of the incident went viral on social media.
